The city of Denver had its second chance at hockey when the Nordiques moved to the Mile High City 13 years after the Rockies, who were a perennial doormat in their seven seasons in Colorado, bolted for New Jersey. However, in the team that would be renamed they were getting a genuine Stanley Cup Contender.

On October 6th old McNichols Arena was jammed packed as the Avalanche defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2. Already a contender the Avalanche acquired Claude Lemieux a proven tough playoff competitor in a trade with the former Rockies now known as the New Jersey Devils.

Early on the Avs were strong posting a 16-7-4 record in early December. However, on December 6th they stole the heart of fans in the Providence of Quebec again this time acquiring Goalie Montreal Canadiens who had a falling out with his Coach along with Mike Keane for Andrei Kovalenko, Martin Rucinsky and Jocelyn Thibault.

The deal would of give the Avalanche perhaps the greatest goalie of all time, and would spur the team on to a 47-25-10 record which was the second best record in the NHL. In the playoffs the Avalanche would get off to a shaky start as they split their first four games with the Vancouver Canucks.

The Avalanche would find themselves in trouble again trailing late in Game 5 at home. However, Joe Sakic would tie the game with five minutes left and win in overtime as the Avs to a 3-2 series lead in Vancouver where they eliminated the Canucks in Game 6.

In the second round the Sakic was the hero in overtime again as he scored in the third overtime of Game 4 as the Avalanche evened their series with the Chicago Blackhawks. The dramatic win would have a snowball effect as the Avalanche won the next two games to take the series in six games.

Facing the Detroit Red Wings who had won a record 61 games the Avalanche continued to roll winning the first two games in Detroit. The Wings would rebound to win Game 3 in Denver, but the Avalanche would take a 3-1 series lead with a win in Game 4.

After the Red Wings took Game 5 in Detroit the Avalanche completed the upset as Joe Sakic scored two goals bring up his playoff total to 17 with a win at McNichols in Game 6. Forced to start the Finals without Claude Lemieux who was suspended for two games for a nasty crosscheck on Kris Draper in Game 6, the Avalanche would not miss a beat dominating the Florida Panthers in the first two games at home winning by a collective 11-3 score.

As the series shifted to Miami Joe Sakic was the hero again scoring his 18th goal in the 2nd period to give the Avalanche a 3-2 win and a 3-0 series lead. Looking to complete the sweep the Avalanche were stymied by John Vanbiesbrouck.

However Patrick Roy would keep the puck out of the net as well and the game went scoreless into a third overtime, where Uwe Krupp beat Vanbiesbrouck on a slap shot to clinch the Stanley Cup. Joe Sakic who led all playoff scorers with 18 goals and 34 points would earn the Conn Smythe.